Russian Mafia goes last to first in Romacaca Stakes
Russian Mafia closed from last of eight runners to win the $75,000 Romacaca Stakes on Saturday at Hawthorne Race Course.
Sent off as a major overlay, Russian Mafia paid $57.20 in winning this turf route for older fillies and mares. Eduardo “Lalo” Rodriguez trains the mare for Ismael Thoroughbreds. Veteran jockey Julio Felix rode the winner, who still had no rivals behind her at the quarter pole before flying down the center of the course. Russian Mafia caught the leaders in the final half-furlong and went on to a 1 3/4-length victory, running 1 1/16 miles over firm going in 1:41.62.
Let’s Cruise, who set a modest pace, held on for second by a neck over 13-10 favorite Bellagamba, who suffered through a tough trip after breaking from post 1.
Six-year-old Russian Mafia is by Skipshot out of My Mach Four, by Machiavellian.